x
When Christian had dropped me off at my house, I was a little disappointed that he didn't stay over. With my mom at work, we'd have the house to ourselves for the afternoon. Even when she came home late, she wouldn't know anyone was here. She would just get a bottle of vodka from the cabinet, a glass, and her pack of cigarettes, and retreat to her room.410Please respect copyright.PENANAPi4yhA13ql
410Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Ya384blB
The first thing I saw when I walked through the front door was an open bottle of wine on the table. That was her morning routine before heading off to work. Once I was out of her hair for the morning, she would drink until she felt buzzed, then get behind the wheel.410Please respect copyright.PENANAUiX0immeSM
410Please respect copyright.PENANAXjjTG58Ry4
Awesome role model, huh?410Please respect copyright.PENANAmnQ89tgnOE
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5E7JI66Uzv
She used to be. I used to look up to her. I used to envy her. I wanted to want to be her. Then my dad left and she completely fell apart. She started drinking heavily, and on more than one occasion she would call me from God knew where to come and get her. I was fifteen at the time, wasn't able to drive, so I had to have our neighbor drive me.410Please respect copyright.PENANAmBvr4AklM8
410Please respect copyright.PENANAZKyH15mcEA
My mom was less than happy when I showed up with another person to pick her up. She actually started screaming at me in front of Mrs. Levine, yelling about how she called me to come and not some stranger. I reminded her that Mrs. Levine was a good friend of hers and had been for years.410Please respect copyright.PENANAcOLBQzWbTt
410Please respect copyright.PENANAyLsVPQcDYh
The yelling continued in the car, when we got into the house, and into my bedroom. I had finally had enough and shut the door in her face, making sure to lock it. Then I turned off the light and sat in the dark for what seemed like hours.410Please respect copyright.PENANASXZDuTb64D
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5TZ5NdB9CJ
I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.410Please respect copyright.PENANACbwbEn14YW
410Please respect copyright.PENANADP8W5lsbke
"Hello?"410Please respect copyright.PENANA20PVNAYLQN
410Please respect copyright.PENANAcj4KYuhlXL
"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"410Please respect copyright.PENANAWTXuMGlUUp
410Please respect copyright.PENANA2rkT0K0rkK
"Hi," I said, picking up the bottle and placing it back in the cabinet. I leaned against the counter, listening to the shuffle of papers on the other end of the line. "I'm okay. How are you? I'm sorry if the session freaked you out."410Please respect copyright.PENANAxwR9hzEv7i
410Please respect copyright.PENANAg7i1Xcs3kX
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."410Please respect copyright.PENANAI5fV28l8e5
410Please respect copyright.PENANAhJCFDsCeJv
"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.410Please respect copyright.PENANA0qRCoOufNc
410Please respect copyright.PENANAXB9YxW92n9
"I've had worse patients than you," she said softly. "Now, about next week. What time would you like to come by?"410Please respect copyright.PENANAxxweeKvrkc
410Please respect copyright.PENANAK0vtHCeCCU
I didn't know. I wasn't even thinking about that. I wasn't even sure what was in store for me for the rest of the week. I just knew that the dreams were going to get worse. I hesitated before answering.410Please respect copyright.PENANAhmH8Mze8al
410Please respect copyright.PENANAe8Uuce2QqM
"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."410Please respect copyright.PENANACho3vrcwoe
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5c2Nb0E5kB
While I cradled the phone on my shoulder, something I hated doing because it didn't work well, I rummaged through the junk drawer that was beside the fridge. I yanked it out, figuring that would take less time, and watched every piece of crap we'd ever collected fall to the floor.410Please respect copyright.PENANAYVG4ukl2cD
410Please respect copyright.PENANAxPFd25E3WG
"Can you hold on?" I asked.410Please respect copyright.PENANAbfGdVp7Yot
410Please respect copyright.PENANAdUwYUTOh8d
I dropped to my hands and knees and started to clean up. Before I stood up, having gotten everything back in order, I noticed something white under the oven. Curiously I crawled toward it and picked it up. It was a folded piece of paper. I opened it and had to hold something to keep steady. It was only a few words, but they were enough to shake my entire foundation.410Please respect copyright.PENANA10Mmw3vbTN
410Please respect copyright.PENANAtNS6cVP3mr
Your son has been adopted. It's taken care of like I promised it would be. Now you don't have to see us anymore. My daughter will never know you. Goodbye.410Please respect copyright.PENANAjfgdBe6Rgx
410Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Ya384blB
The first thing I saw when I walked through the front door was an open bottle of wine on the table. That was her morning routine before heading off to work. Once I was out of her hair for the morning, she would drink until she felt buzzed, then get behind the wheel.410Please respect copyright.PENANAUiX0immeSM
410Please respect copyright.PENANAXjjTG58Ry4
Awesome role model, huh?410Please respect copyright.PENANAmnQ89tgnOE
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5E7JI66Uzv
She used to be. I used to look up to her. I used to envy her. I wanted to want to be her. Then my dad left and she completely fell apart. She started drinking heavily, and on more than one occasion she would call me from God knew where to come and get her. I was fifteen at the time, wasn't able to drive, so I had to have our neighbor drive me.410Please respect copyright.PENANAmBvr4AklM8
410Please respect copyright.PENANAZKyH15mcEA
My mom was less than happy when I showed up with another person to pick her up. She actually started screaming at me in front of Mrs. Levine, yelling about how she called me to come and not some stranger. I reminded her that Mrs. Levine was a good friend of hers and had been for years.410Please respect copyright.PENANAcOLBQzWbTt
410Please respect copyright.PENANAyLsVPQcDYh
The yelling continued in the car, when we got into the house, and into my bedroom. I had finally had enough and shut the door in her face, making sure to lock it. Then I turned off the light and sat in the dark for what seemed like hours.410Please respect copyright.PENANASXZDuTb64D
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5TZ5NdB9CJ
I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.410Please respect copyright.PENANACbwbEn14YW
410Please respect copyright.PENANADP8W5lsbke
"Hello?"410Please respect copyright.PENANA20PVNAYLQN
410Please respect copyright.PENANAcj4KYuhlXL
"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"410Please respect copyright.PENANAWTXuMGlUUp
410Please respect copyright.PENANA2rkT0K0rkK
"Hi," I said, picking up the bottle and placing it back in the cabinet. I leaned against the counter, listening to the shuffle of papers on the other end of the line. "I'm okay. How are you? I'm sorry if the session freaked you out."410Please respect copyright.PENANAxwR9hzEv7i
410Please respect copyright.PENANAg7i1Xcs3kX
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."410Please respect copyright.PENANAI5fV28l8e5
410Please respect copyright.PENANAhJCFDsCeJv
"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.410Please respect copyright.PENANA0qRCoOufNc
410Please respect copyright.PENANAXB9YxW92n9
"I've had worse patients than you," she said softly. "Now, about next week. What time would you like to come by?"410Please respect copyright.PENANAxxweeKvrkc
410Please respect copyright.PENANAK0vtHCeCCU
I didn't know. I wasn't even thinking about that. I wasn't even sure what was in store for me for the rest of the week. I just knew that the dreams were going to get worse. I hesitated before answering.410Please respect copyright.PENANAhmH8Mze8al
410Please respect copyright.PENANAe8Uuce2QqM
"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."410Please respect copyright.PENANACho3vrcwoe
410Please respect copyright.PENANA5c2Nb0E5kB
While I cradled the phone on my shoulder, something I hated doing because it didn't work well, I rummaged through the junk drawer that was beside the fridge. I yanked it out, figuring that would take less time, and watched every piece of crap we'd ever collected fall to the floor.410Please respect copyright.PENANAYVG4ukl2cD
410Please respect copyright.PENANAxPFd25E3WG
"Can you hold on?" I asked.410Please respect copyright.PENANAbfGdVp7Yot
410Please respect copyright.PENANAdUwYUTOh8d
I dropped to my hands and knees and started to clean up. Before I stood up, having gotten everything back in order, I noticed something white under the oven. Curiously I crawled toward it and picked it up. It was a folded piece of paper. I opened it and had to hold something to keep steady. It was only a few words, but they were enough to shake my entire foundation.410Please respect copyright.PENANA10Mmw3vbTN
410Please respect copyright.PENANAtNS6cVP3mr
Your son has been adopted. It's taken care of like I promised it would be. Now you don't have to see us anymore. My daughter will never know you. Goodbye.410Please respect copyright.PENANAjfgdBe6Rgx